Lyme and Lyme-Like Disease: The New Epidemic

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are approximately 300,000 cases of Lyme disease, with 30,000 new cases each year. These statistics are likely conservative, as many physicians have not tested for Lyme in the past. Lyme borreliosis has a worldwide distribution and is the most common vector-borne disease in the US. CDC has upgraded it to epidemic status .

Lyme is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi/spirochete. The spirochete’s life cycle begins when larval-stage ticks are infected via the bite of an infected lxodes tick. These larvae then mature into nymphs, about the size of a pinhead. These ticks feed upon small mammals such as white-footed mice, catbirds, squirrels and opossums whereas infection in these natural hosts does not lead to disease, infection of humans can result in Lyme disease.

In January, 2016, it was reported by Harvard that Lyme-disease carrying ticks are now in half of all US counties. There are more than 20 species worldwide of Borrelia, with 7 identified species described in the US.

Chronic Lyme disease patients are often afflicted with more than just boreliosis. The symptomatology and diagnoses of such patients often suffer from chronic viral infections, multiple bacterial, parasitic and protozoal infections, as well as chronic fungal and mold infections. Thi s is also known as multiple systemic chronic infection syndrome (MSCIS), involves multiple infections such as viruses, parasites, bacterial, spirochetes fungi, and mold. Combination antibiotic therapy, to address the multitude of infection types, often leads to further inflammation, organ damage, neurotoxins, etc.

Silver nanoparticle therapy provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy coupled with immune and inflammation modulating benefits as well as biofilm disruption capabilities, making it more effective treatment for MSCIS. For over six millennia, professionals recognized the antimicrobial benefits of silver to eliminate bacterial, parasitic, viral and fungal infections.